Volunteers drive cancer patients to treatments

Wednesday

Jul 24, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Joan Crosby has no problem picking up strangers.

By Dustin Wyattdustin.wyatt@shj.com

Joan Crosby has no problem picking up strangers.She does it about three times a month.No, these strangers are not hitchhikers standing on the side of the road with thumbs in the air, bags draped over their shoulders. These strangers, for whom Crosby willingly opens her car door, have cancer.Without Crosby, they would have no way of getting to and from treatment.Crosby, a Spartanburg resident, volunteers for the American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery program. The program, which began in 1998, provides transportation to and from treatment for cancer patients who do not have a ride or are unable to drive themselves.“I really enjoy it,” said Crosby, who lost her husband to the disease 11 years ago. “It makes me feel really good that I’m helping somebody.”Many of the people assisted through the Road to Recovery program do not own a vehicle, cannot afford bus fare or do not live where public transportation is available. Some patients are elderly and unable to drive and have no one nearby who can provide regular assistance with transportation. Others might have family members close who are not able to take time off from their jobs to provide the necessary transportation. Without transportation, patients cannot receive treatments.Volunteers such as Crosby donate their time and the use of their cars so patients can receive the life-saving treatments they need.“I go to their home, and I take them to wherever their appointment is — whether it’s the Gibbs Cancer Center or just a doctor’s appointment,” Crosby said. “If it’s just a short visit, I usually stay with them and take them back. If it’s long treatment, like chemotherapy, it might take three hours — I will go somewhere, and then I will come back, pick them up and take them back home.”Sometimes, few words are exchanged as Crosby transports the cancer patient. Other times, the stranger talks, and Crosby listens intently, nodding her head as she steers the car.

“There’s a time or two when they need to stop by the store and pick up something. I will let them get what they need and then take them home.”The patients always express words of gratitude to Crosby when they return to their home.“Everyone is so appreciative,” she said.

Teri Donahoo, community manager of the South Atlantic Cancer Society, said the Road to Recovery program is a tremendous asset to this area and, most importantly, to the individuals seeking cancer treatment.“We know that this program saves lives, and we need the help of Upstate residents to make that happen,” she said.Help in Spartanburg County has been hard to find.Only three people, including Crosby, volunteer for the Road to Recovery Program. In Greenville County, about 20 people volunteer.“The need is great in Spartanburg; three people can’t make all of the trips,“ Donahoo said. “I don’t know if it’s just people not knowing about the program, but Spartanburg has never had a whole lot of volunteers.”Patients who have a tough time with transportation usually let their health care provider know. The health care provider then calls the local cancer society branch and makes a referral for the program.

In Spartanburg, 71 referrals have been made to the program since January of this year — at least 71 patients have cancer and have no way of getting to their treatment, the Upstate Cancer Society reports.Ashley Sprouse, breast health social worker at the Gibbs Cancer Center and Research Institute, said transportation is one of the top issues she sees.“We definitely have a lot of patients who have issues with transportation. From the health care standpoint, we never want to see a patient that is having a dilemma between finding the way to get here and not getting treatment. We want everyone to get treatment,” she said.Since there is such a small number of volunteers, not every patient is going to get the help he or she needs.Donahoo says volunteers list their availability when they apply.“So say they are available on Mondays,” she said. “If we have a patient who needs a ride on Monday, we kind of prioritize it by those people who have identified themselves as being available on Monday.”She says when a request is received at their call center, an email is sent to the volunteers letting them know the dates and times of the appointments. The volunteers respond and let the call center know what appointments they can and cannot cover. The call center will verify with the patient or health care provider whether the request can be filled, Donahoo said.Donahoo said if the Road to Recovery program can’t help, other community resources are offered, but most come at a cost to the patient.The Cancer Association of Spartanburg and Cherokee Counties gives gas cards (when they are available) that help patients provide gas to a neighbor or friend for rides. Spartanburg Regional Health Care System has a patient bus system, but the patients might be late to appointments because of the bus pick-up schedule, or they might have to stay and wait several hours after their appointment for the bus to return and take them home. Some patients might have to pay for a cab.Other patients simply miss their appointments because of a lack of transportation, Donahoo said.

Gloria Duncan, of Taylors, was in a bind recently.Normally, she gets a ride to her daily breast cancer treatment from her daughter. Recently, her daughter was unable to take her. She was left without a ride.She called the cancer society and received help.“It eases my mind not having to worry about finding a ride,” Duncan said. “If it wasn’t for volunteers, I wouldn’t be able to make it” to treatment.Sprouse said if you’re looking for ways to give back, getting involved in the Road to Recovery program is an excellent opportunity.Donahoo said there can never be enough volunteers, and anyone who has free time during the week can help.“It’s good for retired individuals, couples can drive together, and it would be great if churches got involved and helped out. This (program) saves lives,” she said.If you’re interested in volunteering, call the local cancer society at 864-627-1903.

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